First impressions are sometimes flawed, and on this case, it was additionally humiliating. 29-year-old James Conley III has shared a sequence of movies, displaying a West Des Moines Outdated Navy worker accusing him of stealing a jacket. “I used to be accused that I didn’t pay for my blue bubble jacket that I obtained for Christmas that I wore into the shop,” he wrote.

Conley’s story has attracted the curiosity of the complete county, accumulating over 113Ok reactions and 150Ok shares on Fb. The person plans to file a civil rights criticism after which a civil damages lawsuit. He claimed that the nationwide response to his Fb submit helped him understand how big and widespread of a difficulty racial profiling is.

Scroll right down to learn what James and Outdated Navy itself need to say concerning the incident.

On Monday, conservative activist and filmmaker James O'Keefe revealed undercover footage of Twitter engineers alleging the social community has a whole bunch of workers studying “all the pieces you publish on-line” — together with direct messages.

However in line with Twitter, these claims are factually incorrect and misleadingly portrayed by O'Keefe's media group Venture Veritas.

The undercover video exhibits Twitter engineer Clay Haynes telling a Venture Veritas activist that a whole bunch of workers have seemingly unrestricted entry to Twitter customers' personal information. “There’s groups devoted to it… at the least, three or 4 hundred individuals,” Haynes is heard saying on digicam. “They’re paid to take a look at dick pics.”

Twitter disputes these claims. “We don’t proactively assessment DMs. Interval,” an organization spokesperson informed BuzzFeed Information. “A restricted variety of workers have entry to such info, for reliable work functions, and we implement strict entry protocols for these workers.”

Twitter didn’t reply questions concerning the variety of workers who’ve such entry or the specifics of precautions it takes to guard delicate consumer information.

“…technically correct to a level, however exaggerated for impact by drunk idiots.”

A former senior Twitter worker echoed the corporate's remark, observing that the claims in Monday's Venture Veritas video had been “technically correct to a level, however exaggerated for impact by drunk idiots.” The previous worker claimed that the group of engineers capable of view such delicate information is “fairly small” and that it is just permitted entry “in response to a report (i.e. 'so and such is harassing me through DM').”

Two former senior Twitter workers additionally famous that the majority of moderation work is carried out algorithmically — partly because of the variety of stories Twitter processes each day. Within the Venture Veritas video, a Twitter engineer appears to substantiate this.

Monday's undercover video was the newest in a collection of Venture Veritas sting movies aimed toward investigating Twitter. Final week, O'Keefe launched footage of Twitter engineers alleging the corporate is “very happy to assist the Division of Justice of their little investigation” by handing over Trump tweets and direct messages. Twitter pushed again laborious in opposition to the claims final week, noting in an announcement that it “solely responds to legitimate authorized requests, and doesn’t share any consumer info with regulation enforcement with out such a request.” In the identical assertion, a Twitter spokesperson condemned Venture Veritas's movies for tricking workers into speaking below false pretenses.

“We deplore the misleading and underhanded ways by which this footage was obtained and selectively edited to suit a pre-determined narrative,” Twitter stated final week. “Twitter is dedicated to implementing our guidelines with out bias and empowering each voice on our platform, in accordance with the Twitter Guidelines.”

This isn't the primary time Twitter has come below scrutiny for the way it manages worker entry to consumer information. Final November, the corporate confronted criticism after a contract employee temporarily suspended President Trump's account. The suspension prompted questions as as to whether workers might entry consumer info and take motion to droop or ban customers at will. For the reason that November incident Twitter has apparently taken steps to higher safe the worker permissions, in line with a person conversant in the decision-making course of.

Amazon Studios head Roy Worth poses with Harvey Weinstein in June 2017.

Getty Photos

This morning, Amazon despatched an e-mail to its workers concerning the allegations of sexual harassment and assault surrounding movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and ensuing allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct of Amazon Studios head Roy Price, who was suspended on Thursday.

The e-mail, despatched by the corporate’s senior VP of Enterprise Growth Jeff Blackburn and obtained by BuzzFeed Information, condemns Worth’s actions and casts doubt on the way forward for Amazon Studio’s two tasks in growth with the Weinstein Firm. In response to the Associated Press, Amazon's two tasks with The Weinstein Co. embrace a collection with Mad Males creator Matthew Weiner and one other with filmmaker David O. Russell.

“Amazon doesn’t tolerate harassment or abuse of our workers or our enterprise companions. If a priority is dropped at our consideration, we examine it rapidly and completely,” the memo reads. It additionally instructs workers to instantly report any sexual harassment to managers, HR enterprise companions, Amazon’s authorized division, and an inside Amazon ethics hotline.

Blackburn notes that the corporate “can not talk about the specifics of investigations that we conduct concerning the habits of particular person workers,” however that Amazon expects to make choices on each Worth’s state of affairs in addition to Amazon Studio's relationship with Weinstein’s manufacturing firm. “We’re additionally reviewing our choices with the 2 tasks now we have with The Weinstein Co,” Blackburn writes.

Right here’s the complete memo:

Crew,

The information popping out of Hollywood over the previous week has been surprising and disturbing — and sadly we’re part of it. It’s unhappy and really disappointing to me.

Amazon doesn’t tolerate harassment or abuse of our workers or our enterprise companions. If a priority is dropped at our consideration, we examine it rapidly and completely. Generally we are going to rent an out of doors investigator to make sure impartiality. I’d like to emphasise, that at any time, you probably have any issues associated to harassment or abuse at Amazon, please instantly report the incident to your supervisor, your HR enterprise companion, the authorized division, or the Amazon Ethics Hotline (within the U.S., [redacted]).

I acknowledge that you will have questions because of the latest media reporting, however please perceive that we can not talk about the specifics of investigations that we conduct concerning the habits of particular person workers. As , Roy Worth is on depart of absence for an indefinite time frame. I wish to thank Albert for stepping up within the interim to steer the org. We’re additionally reviewing our choices with the 2 tasks now we have with The Weinstein Co. The workforce is shifting as rapidly as attainable to shut on a decision.

I stay extremely optimistic about the way forward for Amazon Studios and what now we have deliberate in FY-18 and past. We have to be sure that our focus stays on our prospects, and that we’re executing on their behalf. Thanks to your dedication and dedication to our creators and expertise, who’re making a few of the absolute best content material out there on TV and in theaters all around the world.

As at all times, please be at liberty to contact me with any questions or issues.

Former Google engineer James Damore’s memo has ignited a pointless debate about whether or not or not ladies are inherently much less able to careers as software program engineers. With the memo treated among many as a authentic piece of scientific evaluation, it may be discouraging for many who see it as manipulating scientific studies to help a flawed and problematic premise.

The entire state of affairs was reflective of bigger issues with gender and racial variety all through Silicon Valley. Even at corporations the place engineers aren’t circulating arguments for why their employers ought to dismantle variety packages, these concepts are pervasive. Read more…

Right here is the complete textual content of Pichai's memo to workers, which Google offered to BuzzFeed Information:

“Pricey Googlers,

“TL;DR Sorry for the late discover however we’re going to cancel at this time’s City Corridor.

“We had hoped to have a frank, open dialogue at this time as we at all times do to convey us collectively and transfer ahead. However our Dory questions appeared externally this afternoon, and on some web sites Googlers are actually being named personally. Googlers are writing in, involved about their security and frightened they could be “outed” publicly for asking a query within the City Corridor.

“In recognition of Googlers’ considerations, we have to step again and create a greater set of situations for us to have the dialogue. So within the coming days we are going to discover a number of boards to assemble and have interaction with Googlers, the place individuals can really feel snug to talk freely. We’ll share particulars quickly.

“Over the previous two days, I’ve had the prospect to satisfy with so many individuals right here, and I’ve learn every of your emails rigorously. The overwhelming majority of you’re very supportive of our determination. A smaller share of you would like we’d do extra. And a few are frightened that you simply can not converse out at work freely. All your voices and opinions matter…and I need to hear them.

“Within the meantime, let’s not neglect what unites us as an organization — our need to construct nice merchandise for everybody that make an enormous distinction of their lives. I’ve been in just a few product discussions at this time and felt energized by the essential issues we’re engaged on. We will, and can proceed, to return collectively to do the perfect for the individuals we serve.

“Keep tuned.”

4chan's /pol/ message board, recognized for doxxing individuals who don't agree with its extremist views, tweeted the names and Twitter handles of Google workers to be doxxed:

James Damore seemed to be staging a small protest close by Google headquarters, per his Twitter account, @Fired4Truth.

Monumental pits, stuffed with multi-colored balls is a kind of vivid reminiscences, unique to childhood. However, in line with Lee McAteer, 32, it doesn’t need to be. Lee owns the corporate Invasion, and he has just lately crammed its Manchester, England-based workplace with 250,000 brightly coloured plastic balls from Ball Mania MCR. “I consider in the event you take pleasure in your job then you definitely by no means work a day in your life,” he instructed Mirror. “So I attempt to make the workplace as enjoyable as attainable. It took us from 3am to 8am to fill the workplace with quarter of one million balls. We needed to reward the blokes for all their laborious work and we love to do issues in another way.” This isn’t the primary time any person brings balls to the workplace to brighten up workers. Imaginarte, the communications company, has developed this prosthetic accessory, and it’s supposed to alleviate strees at work. Solely it’s a special sort of balls.

Two years after an unimpressive IPO, Etsy fired its CEO and restructured the corporate in hopes of accelerating income and placing the corporate on the trail towards larger profitability. These efforts, which included laying off almost 1 / 4 of its employees thus far this yr, appear to be working, based mostly on a positive earnings report launched earlier at the moment. However a few of Etsy’s roughly 800 workers aren’t pleased with the course of the corporate, and round a dozen workers have drafted a public petition demanding change. Fifty individuals have signed it thus far.

“We imagine these modifications signify a transfer away from Etsy’s mission and values, and we’re feeling unsure about what the long run holds for us as Etsy workers and for Etsy’s group of inventive entrepreneurs,” the worker petition reads. It was printed by Etsy engineer Kiron Roy earlier this week, and is claimed to signify the pursuits of each Etsy workers and the unbiased artists and crafters who promote their items on the location.

Workers supporting the petition have 5 most important requests for Etsy’s board of administrators and government crew: a plan to offer medical insurance for a number of the individuals who promote items on Etsy, reassurance that Etsy’s six-month parental go away coverage received’t be dismantled, transparency round severance packages, a recommitment to Etsy’s environmental sustainability objectives, and an open dialogue about widespread restructuring inside the firm, together with the dissolution of particular groups and initiatives.

“There have been giant modifications at Etsy that have an effect on each worker’s life, and there proceed to be modifications within the works that now we have no visibility into. I don’t suppose we’re asking for management over each little factor that occurs, however I feel we really feel unsure in our day-to-day jobs,” Roy advised BuzzFeed Information. “There’s a variety of uncertainty about how lengthy these structural modifications would possibly final, and I feel that the important radio silence from the management crew didn't do something to assist workers work by way of that uncertainty.”

For a lot of its 12-year historical past, Etsy has been making an attempt to construct a sustainable, accountable, socially acutely aware startup inside an business recognized for its cutthroat capitalism. In 2012, it was formally designated as a B Corp, which suggests it met certain standards round range, environmentalism, and financial influence. In a profile final yr, New York Journal described Etsy’s Brooklyn headquarters as “an extremely cozy private welfare state.”

However as Bloomberg reported in Might, help for Etsy’s unusually anti-corporate manner of doing issues began to wane after the corporate went public in 2015. Etsy’s unimpressive stock performance caught the attention of tech investor Seth Wunder, who purchased up Etsy shares and used his stake to push the corporate towards a extra conventional administration model, demanding much less spending on social-good points.

In Might, shortly after Wunder offered his requests to Etsy’s board, Chad Dickerson was fired as CEO and 80 workers had been laid off. In June, 150 extra workers had been laid off; on the time, new Etsy CEO Josh Silverman stated the corporate could be “shifting ahead with a extra nimble construction that helps our present enterprise wants.”

“Etsy was endeavoring to vary the way in which the world did enterprise,” writes Jed B., one of many workers who signed the petition, “however in current months management has appeared extra concerned about doing what everybody else is already doing.”

Roy stated he’s had a number of one-on-one conferences with leaders inside Etsy because the petition first went public. He described these conversations as “genial,” saying, “I feel they perceive that this isn’t about us versus them.” However he says the problems raised within the petition have to be addressed with all workers.

“Many people joined Etsy particularly as a result of we considered it as an organization that treats its values significantly. We put our values into our submitting for for preliminary public providing as danger elements, saying, ‘We’re going to be residing as much as our values, and that’s a danger you must perceive for those who’re going to spend money on Etsy,’” Roy stated. “As an engineer, I want to work at Etsy versus another firm the place I might make more cash as a result of I imagine it’s a value-led, moral firm.”